EVV’s hopes of a statement result on home soil evaporated on a dramatic Saturday evening in the Derde Divisie, as VV Dongen left with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. The match, played under the lights on 23 August 2026, produced five goals and no shortage of attacking intent, with the visitors eventually proving more clinical in the decisive moments.

End-to-end start sets the tone

From the opening minutes, both sides pushed forward with purpose. EVV, eager to protect their home record, pressed high and forced early chances, but it was VV Dongen who demonstrated greater efficiency in front of goal. The away side struck first, exploiting space behind the EVV full-backs and finishing calmly to make it 1-0. The hosts responded well, equalising before half-time with a well-worked move that left the Dongen defence exposed.

The second half carried the same rhythm, with the match opening up further. Dongen regained the lead through a set-piece conversion, only for EVV to show resilience and level matters once more. Just as the home faithful sensed a point was within reach, the visitors produced a late winner, capitalising on a defensive lapse to seal all three points.

Key moments

• Early away breakthrough: VV Dongen’s first goal forced EVV to chase the game.
• EVV’s first response: A composed finish brought the hosts level at 1-1.
• Set-piece advantage: Dongen regained control from a dead-ball situation.
• Second EVV equaliser: The home team again showed character to make it 2-2.
• Late winner: Dongen struck with time running out, securing a 3-2 result.

What this means for the Derde Divisie standings

The result provides VV Dongen with valuable momentum early in the season, while EVV will be left to rue a promising performance that yielded no points. In a league where home advantage can prove crucial, dropping two points at this stage is far from ideal. Both teams will now look to sharpen their defensive organisation as the Derde Divisie campaign continues to take shape.

For neutral observers, the match served as a reminder of the competition’s unpredictability, with neither side willing to settle for a draw. The five-goal thriller will certainly be one of the more entertaining fixtures of the early season, and both sets of supporters will hope their sides can maintain this attacking approach while tightening up at the back.